Multi-path gateway communications device

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for enabling a virtual personalized network. Communications are established with a personal digital gateway to control access, sharing, security, and/or management of up-to-date personalized data exchanged between or among a plurality of associated communications devices and/or communications networks. The associated communications devices are owned, operated, and/or accessed by a common user.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application relates to applicants' co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/306,504, entitled “Personal Digital Gateway,”filed simultaneously herewith and of which the “Brief Summary of theInvention” and “Detailed Description of the Invention” sections areincorporated herein by this reference.

This application also relates to applicants' co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/306,690, entitled “Edge Side Assembler (ESA),”filed simultaneously herewith and of which the “Brief Summary of theInvention” and “Detailed Description of the Invention” sections areincorporated herein by this reference.

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT PROTECTION

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document and its figurescontain material subject to copyright protection. The copyright ownerhas no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patentdocument or the patent disclosure, but otherwise reserves all copyrightswhatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to computer systems, communications,and communication devices. More particularly, this invention is directedto methods and systems for a personal digital gateway that communicateswith a linked communications device to automatically provide customizedpresentation, selection, and management of programs and/or data to thelinked communications device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Electronic communications has experienced explosive growth, and moregrowth is planned as access increases and communications devicesimprove. This explosive growth is revolutionizing how people manage datashared among numerous communications devices. Each week, hundreds, ifnot thousands or more, of electronic documents, facsimiles, emails, andother proprietary data may be generated by or provided to a user (e.g.,owner or operator of the communications device). The user may desire tohave this data available on multiple communications devices, such as,for example, the user's personal digital assistant (PDA), the user'shome personal computer (PC), the user's office PC, and the user'swireless telephone. Typically, each of these communications devices iscustomized in terms of software, hardware, and network configuration.For example, the wireless telephone and the home PC have differentsoftware applications, data processing, storage, management, andcommunications systems.

One of the biggest barriers to managing multiple communications devicesis creating, accessing, and maintaining up-to-date personalizedinformation. This personalized information can be exchanged or otherwiseshared with each of the user's communications devices. For example, ifthe user wants to share contact information (e.g., name, phone numbers,addresses, etc.) between the wireless telephone and the home PC, thenthe user typically must enter this information twice—once on thewireless telephone and once on the home PC. If the user updates thecontact information for his/her home PC, then this updated informationis not communicated to the wireless phone and the user must update thewireless phone separately. Another barrier is providing this up-to-datepersonalized information in a standardized or otherwise compatible dataformat, depending on functionality limitations of the communicationsdevice, so that each of the communications devices has efficient andeffective access to the information. For example, conventional wirelessphones have limited functionality compared with the home PC. Typically,wireless telephones provide limited contact information, such as atelephone listing by name rather than full address books and/orcalendars. Additionally, conventional wireless telephones are unable torun application/software packages and may have limited capabilities fortransmitting, receiving, and displaying video data.

In addition to the above challenges, some communications devices of theuser also set forth a variety of login identifications and/or passwordsin order to provide privacy, authorization, and/or security for thecommunications device and/or the connected communications networks. Forexample, the wireless phone may have a security identifier thatactivates service over the wireless network. In addition, the wirelessphone may have another security identifier that accesses a voicemessaging service. Typically, these identifiers are created and managedby the user. However, in some instance, such as accessing the user'soffice PC, the user may not have control over creating and managingidentifiers and passwords.

The above discussion illustrates how the sharing of up-to-datepersonalized information among various communications devices iscreating a new foundation for a virtual personalized network setting.With this emerging virtual personalized network setting, what is neededis a personalized digital gateway that builds communicationsinfrastructures to support and capitalize on the differentcommunications devices of the user to provide up-to-date personalizedinformation. Accordingly, personal digital gateway (PDG) informationsystems and components are needed that enable multiple communicationsdevices to share, transfer, and/or access standardized or otherwisecompatible up-to-date personalized information. Additionally, personaldigital gateway systems and components are needed to customizepresentation of the standardized up-to-date personalized informationbased on the functionalities of each communications device. Further, aneed exists to improve notification, access, and management of thepersonalized information without investing millions of dollars incomputer equipment, in networking infrastructures, in maintenance, andin training while also complying with security, authentication, and/orprivacy requirements.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aforementioned problems and others are reduced by a personal digitalgateway (PDG). This PDG provides an interface between differentcommunications devices, networks, and systems and, thereby, providesuniversal access to and management of personalized information across avariety of communications devices. The PDG comprises systems and methodsthat leverage the assets of a connected communications device andassociated networks to facilitate improved access, sharing,notification, security, and/or management of data exchanged between oramong different communications devices of a user. Some advantages of thePDG include increased ability of each connected communications device toflexibly manage and categorize data that is exchanged with othercommunications devices, provide access to up-to-date data (includinguser preferences, passwords, and messages), and utilize a virtualpersonalized network to manage communications with connected networks,such as a public data network (e.g., Internet).

An embodiment of this invention describes a personal digital gatewaythat may include a database of rule-based profiles for communicatingdata between the personal digital gateway and a selected communicationsdevice, a processor for associating the rule-based profile with theselected communications device, and a communications interface betweenthe personal digital gateway and the selected communications device.Additionally, the personal digital gateway may include a server or aserver application for selecting a personal digital gateway rule-basedprofile from the database. Typically, the selected communications deviceis a wireless communications device, a mobile phone, a wireless phone, aWAP phone, an IP phone, a satellite phone, a computer, a modem, a pager,a digital music device, a digital recording device, a personal digitalassistant, an interactive television, a digital signal processor, and/ora Global Positioning System device. Additionally, the selectedcommunications device may include a bar code reader, digital read-outequipment, and programmable appliances (e.g., ovens, answering machines,alarm systems, etc.). In further embodiments, the personal digitalgateway may include at least one input/output port, a display, an audiosubsystem, and/or a power source.

Another embodiment describes a personal digital gateway that accesses,integrates, and configures data communicated between the personaldigital gateway and a selected communications device. The personaldigital gateway may include an input/output processor, a communicationsinterface, a memory device, a rule-based application dataserver, and aprocessor. The input/output processor allows input and output of thedata with the personal digital gateway. The input/output processorfurther operates with the communications interface to allow wired and/orwireless communications with the selected communications device. Forexample, a wired communications device may connect with the personaldigital gateway via a cable connected to a serial or parallel port and awireless communications device may transceive signals, such as theIndustrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) Band frequencies, such as,2.4-2.5 GHz and 300-428,000 GHz for infrared transmission, cellulartelephone frequencies, such as, 806-960 MHz, 1710-1855 MHz, and2500-2690 MHz, paging frequencies, and any other frequency in theelectromagnetic spectrum. Additionally, the personal digital gateway mayinclude an audio/video recorder, an audio/video player, and a biometricsensor. Still in a further embodiment, the personal digital gatewayincludes an edge side assembler application for accessing, integrating,and converting the data to a format presentable to the selectedcommunications device.

In the above embodiment, a rule-based engine categorizes the data as:(1) data associated with an access agent, (2) data associated with aconfiguration agent, (3) data associated with a security agent, and (4)data associated with a management agent. For example, data associatedwith the configuration agent may include information about hardware,software, and network configuration (including user preferences) of theselected communications device. In a preferred embodiment, a rule-basedapplication dataserver and associated rule-based profiles are used torun the rule-based engine. The rule-based application dataserver allowsthe user to control access, sharing, notification, security, and/ormanagement of the data exchanged with the selected communications devicevia a PDG rule-based profile associated with the above categories. In anembodiment, the rule-based application dataserver may be provided by thepersonal digital gateway. In other embodiments, the rule-basedapplication dataserver may be associated with the selectedcommunications device and/or network equipment of the selectedcommunications device. For example, a telecommunications serviceprovider could provide access to a remote rule-based dataserverassociated with the personal digital gateway via a modem connection witha personal computer. Thus, the user could remotely manage the datashared across numerous communications devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other embodiments, objects, uses, advantages, and novelfeatures of this invention are more clearly understood by reference tothe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingfigures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing of an exemplary Personal DigitalGateway (PDG) according to an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic showing an exemplary operating environment for aPDG according to an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an exemplary PDG connectedwith a communications device and associated network according to anembodiment of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic showing an exemplary configuration of the dataflow through a PDG, a connected communications device, and/or aconnected network according to an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating the flow of data through a PDG, aconnected communications device, and a network according to anembodiment of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic showing an exemplary embodiment of a PDG, aplurality of communications devices, and at least one networkcommunicating data according to an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic showing another exemplary embodiment of a PDG, aplurality of communications devices, and at least one networkcommunicating data according to an embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of another exemplary PDG according to anembodiment of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodimentsare shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many differentforms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments setforth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that thisdisclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey thescope of the invention to those of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover,all statements herein reciting embodiments of the invention, as well asspecific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural andfunctional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that suchequivalents include both currently known equivalents as well asequivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed thatperform the same function, regardless of structure).

Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill inthe art that the diagrams, schematics, flowcharts, and the likerepresent conceptual views or processes illustrating systems and methodsembodying this invention. The functions of the various elements shown inthe figures may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware aswell as hardware capable of executing associated software. Similarly,any switches shown in the figures are conceptual only. Their functionmay be carried out through the operation of program logic, throughdedicated logic, through the interaction of program control anddedicated logic, or even manually, the particular technique beingselectable by the entity implementing this invention. Those of ordinaryskill in the art further understand that the exemplary hardware,software, processes, methods, and/or operating systems described hereinare for illustrative purposes and, thus, are not intended to be limitedto any particular named manufacturer.

A personal digital gateway is a device that interfaces differentcommunications devices, connected networks, and/or systems. The purposeof the personal digital gateway is to efficiently automate configurationand routing of data to different communications devices of a common userand to effectively manage this data and the different communicationsdevices. The personal digital gateway leverages the assets of theconnected communications device(s) in terms optimally using theconnected software, hardware, equipment, networks, and/or otherinformation technology assets. For example, the user's office PC mayhave a local and/or a wide area network that utilizes Ethernet,dedicated private lines, Frame Relay, ISDN, ATM, ADSL, and the like toprovide a high speed connection to a data network, such as the Internet,Intranet, and/or Extranet. Some advantages of the PDG include increasedability of each connected communications device to flexibly manage andcategorize data that is exchanged with other communications devices,provide access to up-to-date data (including user preferences,passwords, and messages), and utilize a virtual personalized network tomanage communications with connected networks, such as the Internet.

As used herein, the term “communications device” includes wired andwireless communications devices, such as a mobile phone, a wirelessphone, a Wireless Access Protocol (WAP) phone, a satellite phone acomputer, a modem, a pager, a digital music device, a digital recordingdevice, a personal digital assistant, an interactive television, adigital signal processor, and/or a Global Positioning System device.Additionally, the term “communications device” may include a bar codereader, digital read-out equipment, and/or programmable appliances(e.g., ovens, refrigerators, washers, and other appliances, answeringmachines, alarm systems, etc.). Further, as used herein, the term “data”includes electronic information, such as, for example facsimile,electronic mail (e-mail), text, video, audio, and/or voice in a varietyof formats, such as dual tone multi-frequency, digital, analog, and/orothers. Additionally, the data may include: (1) executable programs,such as a software application, (2) an address, location, and/or otheridentifier of the storage location for the data, (3) integrated orotherwise combined files, such as a grouping of emails associated withthe user's personal Internet Service Provider and with the user'sbusiness electronic messaging system, and/or (4) profiles associatedwith configuration, authenticity, security, and others. In variousembodiments, the data may be stored by the PDG, a peripheral storagedevice connected to the PDG, the selected communications device, anetwork connected with the selected communication device, and/or otherconnected networks. Thus, the PDG provides a virtual personalizednetwork of universal data controlled by the user.

Referring now to the figures, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a PDGManagement Module 110 residing in a personal digital gateway 100. ThePDG Management Module 110 operates within a system memory device. ThePDG Management Module 110, for example, is shown residing in a memorysubsystem 12. The PDG Management Module 110, however, could also residein flash memory 14 and/or in a peripheral storage device, such asstorage device 40 associated with a PDG rule-based dataserver 42. Thepersonal digital gateway 100 also has one or more central processors 20executing an operating system. The operating system, as is well known,has a set of instructions that control the internal functions of thepersonal digital gateway 100. A system bus 22 communicates signals, suchas data signals, control signals, and address signals, between thecentral processors 20 and a system controller 24 (typically called a“Northbridge”). The system controller 24 provides a bridging functionbetween the one or more central processors 20, a graphics subsystem 26,the memory subsystem 12, and a PCI (Peripheral Controller Interface) bus28. The PCI bus 28 is controlled by a Peripheral Bus Controller 30. ThePeripheral Bus Controller 30 (typically called a “Southbridge”) is anintegrated circuit that serves as an input/output hub for variousperipheral ports. These peripheral ports could include, for example, akeyboard port 32, a mouse port 34, a serial port 36 and/or a parallelport 38. Additionally, these peripheral ports would allow the personaldigital gateway to communicate with a variety of communications devicesthrough ports 54 (such as SCSI or Ethernet), Wireless Transceiver 52(using the IEEE Wireless standard 802.11 and Infrared), and Wired CommDevice Port 50 (such as modem V90+ and compact flash slots). ThePeripheral Bus Controller 30 could also include an audio subsystem 35.Additionally, the personal digital gateway may include a network server44 operating with a network browser 46. The network server 44 and thenetwork browser 46 may be stand alone components or they may beintegrated into the PDG dataserver 42. Still further, the personaldigital gateway 100 may include a power source 60, such as arechargeable battery to provide power and allow the personal digitalgateway 100 to be portable.

The processor 20 is typically a microprocessor. Advanced Micro Devices,Inc., for example, manufactures a full line of microprocessors, such asthe ATHLON™ (ATHLON™ is a trademark of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., OneAMD Place, P.O. Box 3453, Sunnyvale, Calif. 94088-3453, 408.732.2400,800.538.8450, www.amd.com). Sun Microsystems also designs andmanufactures microprocessors (Sun Microsystems, Inc., 901 San AntonioRoad, Palo Alto Calif. 94303, www.sun.com). The Intel Corporationmanufactures microprocessors (Intel Corporation, 2200 Mission CollegeBlvd., Santa Clara, Calif. 95052-8119, 408.765.8080, www.intel.com).Other manufacturers also offer microprocessors. Such other manufacturersinclude Motorola, Inc. (1303 East Algonquin Road, P.O. Box A3309Schaumburg, Ill. 60196, www.Motorola.com), International BusinessMachines Corp. (New Orchard Road, Armonk, N.Y. 10504, (914) 499-1900,www.ibm.com), and Transmeta Corp. (3940 Freedom Circle, Santa Clara,Calif. 95054, www.transmeta.com).

The preferred operating system is a LINUX® or a RED HAT® LINUX-basedsystem (LINUX® is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds and RED HAT®is a registered trademark of Red Hat, Inc., Research Triangle Park,North Carolina, 1-888-733-4281, www.redhat.com). Other operatingsystems, however, may be suitable. Such other operating systems wouldinclude a UNIX®-based system (UNIX® is a registered trademark of TheOpen Group, 44 Montgomery Street, Suite 960, San Francisco, Calif.94104, 415.374.8280, www.opengroup.org). and Mac® OS (Mac® is aregistered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc., 1 Infinite Loop,Cupertino, Calif. 95014, 408.996.1010, www.apple.com). Another operatingsystem would include DOS-based systems. WINDOWS® and WINDOWS NT® arecommon examples of DOS-based systems (WINDOWS® and WINDOWS NT® areregistered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way,Redmond Wash. 98052-6399, 425.882.8080, www.Microsoft.com).

The system memory device (shown as memory subsystem 12, flash memory 14,or peripheral storage device 40) may also contain one or moreapplication programs. For example, an application program may cooperatewith the operating system and with a video display unit (via the serialport 36 and/or the parallel port 38) to provide a Graphical UserInterface (GUI) for the PDG Management Module 110. The GUI typicallyincludes a combination of signals communicated along the keyboard port32 and the mouse port 34. The GUI provides a convenient visual and/oraudible interface with the user of the personal digital gateway 100. Asis apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, the selection andarrangement of the PDG Management Module 110 may be programmed over avariety of alternate mediums, such as, for example, a voice-activatedmenu prompt.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary operating environment that illustrates thepersonal digital gateway 100 communicating with a communications device150 and with a network 160. The communications device 150 and thenetwork 160 may also communicate with each other (e.g., Office PC shownas reference numeral 603 and shared, interconnected network 670 of FIG.6). FIG. 3 shows another exemplary operating environment with additionaldetails of how the user may interact with a User Interface 302 to selecta PDG Rule-Based Profile 304 and/or the data 306 to communicate with thecommunications device 150 and/or network 160. A router 310 of thepersonal digital gateway 100 chooses a communications path 312 and anEdge Side Assembler 314 accesses, integrates, and configures the data306 (including remote data that is stored within the communicationsdevice 150 and/or network 160) to communicate with the communicationsdevice 150 (or, alternatively, with the personal digital gateway 100).While FIG. 3 shows the personal digital gateway 100 comprising the UserInterface 302, the PDG Rule-Based Profile 304, the data 306, the router310, the communications path analyzer 312, and the Edge Side Assembler314, each may be separate components. The router 310, for example, maybe a stand-alone component communicating with the other components.

The PDG Management Module 110 of the personal digital gateway 100 allowsa user to manage protocol transfer across a variety of communicationsdevices and networks and to manage communications of mobile dataassociated with the personal digital gateway 100. For example, PDGManagement Module 110 allows: (1) the user to customize one or more PDGrule-based profiles 304 of a rule-based application dataserver (shown asreference numeral 42 in FIG. 1) including a configuration agent (e.g.,MyCommController), a security agent (e.g., MyCredentials), an accessagent (e.g., MyProfile), a management agent (e.g., MyPDGTools), and dataassociated with the common user (e.g., MyMobileInfo); (2) the user tocustomize presentation, features, and/or management of communicationsbetween the personal digital gateway 100 and the communications device150; and (3) the user to manage network connection(s) of the personaldigital gateway 100 and/or the communications device 150. For example,the user may select a configuration agent (MyCommController) having alist of communications devices (e.g., personal digital assistant, mobilephone, home PC, office PC, MP3 player, etc.) and add to, delete from,and/or modify the configuration profile of the communications device,such as, connectivity parameters and device functionality parameters(e.g., capability to present audio or video and capability to runportable applications). This information is stored with the PDGRule-Based Profile 304 of the connected communications device 150 andmay act as a trigger for routing, configuring, and formattingcommunications including data 306 associated with the rule-basedapplication dataserver 42. The PDG Management Module 110 also allows theuser to customize features, such as data handling options. For example,the PDG Management Module 110 may split a display screen of the selectedcommunications device (and/or personal digital gateway 100) into twoviewing areas and present the management controls (e.g., access agent,security agent, etc.) in one portion and present the data that has beenor that might be integrated for communications between the personaldigital gateway 100 and the connected communications device 150 in theother portion. Further, the PDG Management Module 110 may allow the userto control whether to accept, decline, or postpone integration of thedata with the connected communications device 150, or alternatively, maybe set to automatically accept, decline, or postpone integrationdepending on rules contained in the PDG rule-based profile 304. Stillfurther, the PDG Management Module 110 of the personal digital gateway100 allows a user to control additional processing of the data, such asediting the data, copying the data, deleting the data, associating thedata with remote data, links, and otherwise related data linking thedata, storing the data, administering the data, compressing the data,and uncompressing the data (via MyPDGTools) and encrypting/decryptingthe data (via MyCredentials). Finally, the PDG Management Module 110 ofthe personal digital gateway 100 may provide a network address, such asan IP address or the like, of the connected communications device 150 sothat a connected network 160, such as a telecommunications networkand/or a data network, can communicate the data (e.g., remote dataand/or linked data) and, thus integrate telephony events and datanetwork events with the user's connected communications device 150.

The PDG Rule-Based DataServer Application 42 (also referred to herein asthe “PDG DataServer”) functions as an intelligent server, database, andprocessor that is dedicated to managing personal digital gatewayactivity including communications with the connected communicationsdevice 150 and/or the connected network 160. The PDG DataServer 42stores one or more PDG Rule-Based Profiles 304 that include data and/orapplications associated with various agents, including MyCommController,MyCredentials, MyProfile, MyPDGTools, and/or a troubleshooting agent.For example, MyCredentials may contain a variety of fields and/or filesassociated with at least one of the following: login informationassociated with the user, password associated with the user, telephonenumber and/or Service Node of the user, TCP/IP address of the user,other addresses and passwords associated with a communications deviceand/or network of the user, and encryption/decryption tools. Stillanother example includes MyCommController that may contain a variety offields and/or files associated with presentation formats for variouscommunications devices and other information associated with thecommunications signal, size, and content of data, display of a GUI(e.g., color, font, placement of PDG Management Module 110 on screen,etc.), and other selections related to PDG management, such as routingand troubleshooting problems or error messages.

In an embodiment, the PDG Rule-Based Profile 304 contains a MyMobileInfodatabase including links or address of remote data and linked data,thereby providing a mobile virtual database. The MyMobileInfo may alsocontain rules associated with and databases for (1) file storage ofmobile data (i.e., MyFiles), (2) file storage backup (i.e.,MyBackupGateway), (3) personal journal storage (i.e., MyJournal), (4)bookmarks, cookies, caches, and other networked links (i.e.,MyBookmarks), (5) copy and paste features (i.e., MyClipboard), (6)personal profiles and preferences, such groupings, categories, timingsequences to automatically refresh linked sites, etc. (i.e., MyProfile),and (7) identification, authentication, and security credentials forassociated communications devices, such as username, password, etc.(i.e., data associated with MyCredentials).

Additionally, the PDG Rule-Based Profile 304 may contain informationfrom other engines. For example, MyCommController engine provides rulesand databases for creating, accessing, and/or otherwise managingcommunications with associated communications devices that can beconnected with the personal digital gateway 100. MyCommControllermaintains information about each communications device, such ascommunications medium (e.g., via Infrared connection, USB connection,the family of IEEE 802.11 standards, etc.) and network routing. Forexample, network routing provides a virtual private router that tunnelsthe user's network access to any communications device connected withthe personal digital gateway 100. Still further, the PDG ManagementModule 110 may contain another engine, MyPersonalContentDistributor,that provides rules and databases for creating, sharing, and/orotherwise managing data that can be distributed through the connectedcommunications device 150 and/or the network 160. For example, in anembodiment, when data associated with a work file co-authored with otherindividuals is updated, a mail message with the attached updated file isgenerated and sent to co-authors. The user may confirm sending thegenerated message, or alternatively, the message may be automaticallysent using routing instructions. Still another example according toanother embodiment includes sending a query to a list of contactswhenever a picture is uploaded or otherwise detected by the personaldigital gateway 100. The query may be sent as an email to advisecontacts of the picture and ask if the contact would like a copy. If so,the contact can select a link contained in the email and download a copyof the picture. Additionally, the contact may be charged an automaticfee that is programmed with the downloading of the picture and the feemay be communicated back to and accounted for by the personal digitalgateway 100 or the communications device 150.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustrating an exemplary framework of the dataflow through a PDG, a connected communications device, and/or aconnected network according to an embodiment of this invention. The user(not shown) of the personal digital gateway 100 may use the UserInterface 302 to input and/or otherwise identify data 306 (e.g.,inserting a compact disc of data into a locally connected storagedevice, such as reference numeral 610 in FIG. 6 or inputting an address,such as a domain name into a network browser). Thereafter, the user mayselect the PDG Rule-Based Profile 304 to associate, or alternatively,the personal digital gateway may automatically associate the Rule-BasedProfile 304 (such as when MyProximityDetector identifies thecommunications device 150 within a selected proximity and initiatescommunications). The PDG Rule-Based Profile 304 and the data 306 areprocessed by the Edge Side Assembler 314. The Edge Side Assembler 314identifies the data 306 (including data 306 associated with the PDGRule-Based Profile 304), locates remote data, and associates the EdgeSide Assembly profile (410) (if available). Next, the Edge SideAssembler 314 configures a query for remote data 306, accesses thecommunications device 150 and/or the network 160 to execute the query,receives the remote data 306, and integrates the remote data 306 withdata 306 associated with the PDG Rule-Based Profile 304 and/or ESAProfile 410. Thereafter, the Edge Side Assembler 314 formats/configuresthe integrated data 306 for a presentation by the communications device150, or alternatively, by the personal digital gateway. Additionally,the Edge Side Assembler 314 may compress and/or decompress data 306communicated with the communications device 150, the network 160, andthe personal digital gateway (e.g., local storage device 610 shown inFIG. 6). Still further, the Edge Side Assembler may encrypt and/ordecrypt data 306 communicated with the communications device 150, thenetwork 160, and the personal digital gateway.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary flow diagram of the flow of the data 306 throughthe personal digital gateway 100, communications device 150, and/ornetwork 160. Typically, the flow of the data 306 involves the user usingthe personal digital gateway 100 to communicate the PDG Rule-BasedProfile 304 and/or data 306 (including locally stored data andassociated remote and/or linked data) (step 505). The PDG Rule-BasedProfile 304 and data 306 are routed to and received by thecommunications device 150 and, if applicable, the ESA profile 410associates additional data (step 510). The Edge Side Assembler 314determines whether external network(s) 160 and/or communications devices150 need to be queried for remote data 306 and/or for refreshing linkeddata 306 (step 515). If so, the Edge Side Assembler 314 establishescommunications with the network 160 and/or communications device 150 androutes a query to retrieve the remote and/or linked data 306 (step 520).The network 160 and/or communications device 150 receives the query(step 525), retrieves the data (step 530), and transmits the data 306 tothe personal digital gateway 100 150 (step 535). Thereafter, thepersonal digital gateway 100 receives, integrates (step 540), andconfigures (step 545) the data (including remote and linked data) 306for compatible exchange with the personal digital gateway 100, theconnected communications device 150, and/or the connected network 160.Additionally, the data 306 may be compressed and/or encrypted (step 550)and presented to the communications device 150 (step 555). Typically,the Edge Side Assembler 314 is integrated into the personal digitalgateway 100. Alternatively, the Edge Side Assembler 314 may be a standalone system (not shown in the figures), may be integrated into aconnected communications device 150, and/or may be integrated into thenetwork 160. No matter how the Edge Side Assembler 314 is deployed, thedata 306 is integrated and processed so that it is compatible forpresentation by the communications device 150 (step 445) (oralternatively, by the personal digital gateway 100 (not shown)).Thereafter, the PDG Rule-Based Profile 304, ESA profile 410, and/or data306 (e.g., associated data files stored on local storage device 610shown in FIG. 6) may be updated (step 560). For example, in anembodiment, the PDG Rule-Based Profile 304 may contain rules forrefreshing a bookmark associated with a connected network such that acollection of bookmarks are stored over time that show a specificversion of the data associated with the bookmark and a date stamp. Whilethe process in FIG. 5 is generally shown in series, the process mayoccur in different orders and/or at simultaneous times as one ofordinary skill in the art will understand.

FIGS. 6-7 are schematics showing the personal digital gateway 100communicating with a variety of wireless and wired communicationsdevices (shown as reference numerals 601-602 in FIG. 6 and referencenumerals 701-706 in FIG. 7) and a communications network (shown asreference numeral 670 in FIG. 6) according to other embodiments of thisinvention. The means of communicating the data 306 between or among thepersonal digital gateway 100, the communications device, and thecommunications network include a variety of means, including opticaltransmission of data (e.g., any medium capable of optically transmittingthe data), wireless transmission of data (e.g., wireless communicationsof the data using any portion of the electromagnetic spectrum), and/orfixed-wire transmission of data (e.g., any medium capable oftransmitting electrons along a conductor). Fiber optic technologies,spectrum multiplexing (such as Dense Wave Division Multiplexing),Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet services, Infrared, the family of IEEE802.11 standards, and Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL) are just someexamples of the transmission means.

FIG. 6 illustrates a virtual personalized network system that includesthe personal digital gateway 100 coupled with a local storage device610, a variety of communications devices that include an interactivetelevision 601, a Global Positioning System (GPS) transceiver 602, anoffice personal computer (PC) 603, and a home PC 604, a communicationscable 605, a satellite transceiver 610, a communications device gateway620, a communications device data network 620, a communications deviceserver 640, at least one switch 650, a wireless transceiver 660, atransceiver network 665, and a shared, interconnected network 670. In anembodiment, the personal digital gateway 100 transmits and receivessignals with one of the wireless communications devices (i.e., theinteractive television 501 or the GPS transceiver 602) to communicatedata 306. For example, the personal digital gateway 100 may communicatewith the interactive television 601 to communicate data stored on thelocal data source 610 and data stored on a remote data source, such as,for example a data storage device of the home PC 604 (the home PC 604 isaccessed via the shared, interconnected network 670). The interactivetelevision 601 communicates via an antenna (not shown) with thesatellite 610 that transmits a request for the remote and/or linked datathrough the communications device gateway 620 connected to thecommunications device network 630. If necessary, the communicationsdevice network 630 routes the request for the remote and/or linked datathrough a communications server 640 and switch 650 to the shared,interconnected network 670. Alternatively, the personal digital gateway100 may communicate the data 306 with the transceiver 660 and anassociated transceiver network 665 that routes communications directlyto the shared, interconnected network 670. The shared, interconnectednetwork 670 can access other connected networks and communicationsdevices. For example, the shared, interconnected network 670 couldaccess the home PC 604 through switch 650 to retrieve data from a harddrive of the home PC 604. The shared, interconnected network 670transmits the remote and/or linked data back through the communicationspath to the interactive television 601 or, alternatively, to thepersonal digital gateway 100 for integration and presentation formattingby the Edge Side Assembler 314. Additionally, the shared, interconnectednetwork 670 could transmit the data back to a connected communicationsdevice via another communications path. For example, the data could betransmitted from the shared, interconnected network to switch 650coupled with the office PC 603 wired over communications cable 605 tothe personal digital assistant 100 to communicate to the interactivetelevision 601. The interactive television 601 could alternativelycommunicate via a fixed transmission path, such as a cable line and/or atelephone line (neither shown), to communicate a request for the remotedata 306 and/or linked data 306.

FIG. 7 illustrates a virtual personalized network system that includesthe personal digital gateway 100 coupled with a local storage device610, a variety of communications devices that include a mobile phone701, a personal digital assistant (PDA) 702, an interactive pager 703, amodem 704, an MP3 player, a digital signal processor 706, an officepersonal computer (PC) 603, and a home PC 604, a communications cable605, an antenna 710, a mobile switching telephone office (MTSO) 720, acommunications device gateway 620, a communications device data network620, a communications device server 640, at least one switch 650, and ashared, interconnected network 670. In an embodiment, the personaldigital gateway 100 transmits and receives signals with one of thewireless communications devices (i.e., shown as reference numerals701-706) to communicate data 306. For example, the personal digitalgateway 100 may communicate with the mobile phone 701 to communicatedata stored on the local data source 610 and data stored on a remotedata source, such as, for example a data storage device of the home PC604 (the home PC 604 is accessed via the shared, interconnected network670). The mobile phone 701 communicates via an antenna 710 to the MTSO720, and the MTSO 720 forwards a request for the remote data 306 and/orlinked data 306 to the shared, interconnected network 670. The requestfrom the MTSO 720 may be routed either through the switch 650 directlyor through the communications device gateway 620, the communicationsdevice network 630, the communications device network 630, thecommunications server 640, and switch 650. Alternatively, the personaldigital gateway 100 may communicate the data 306 with the transceiver660 and an associated transceiver network 665 that routes communicationsdirectly to the shared, interconnected network 670. As described abovefor FIG. 6, the shared, interconnected network 670 can access otherconnected networks and communications devices. The shared,interconnected network 670 transmits the remote and/or linked data backthrough the communications path to the interactive mobile phone 701 or,alternatively, to the personal digital gateway 100 for integration andpresentation formatting by the Edge Side Assembler 314. Additionally, asdescribed above for FIG. 6, the shared, interconnected network 670 couldtransmit the data back to a connected communications device via anothercommunications path.

Because of the mobility of the personal digital gateway 100, the abilityof the personal digital gateway 100 to communicate the data 306 over avariety of paths allows the personal digital gateway 100 to dynamicallycommunicate with a variety of communications devices based on theproximity of a communications device. For example, if the user is movingabout, the personal digital gateway 100, may automatically interfacewith the office PC 603 when the user is at his/her office, with themobile phone 701 when the user is within a certain proximity (e.g.,distance) of the mobile phone 701, with the PDA 702 when the user iswithin a certain proximity of the PDA 702, etc. Regardless of thecommunications device communicating with the personal digital gateway100, the data 306 may need to be configured and/or otherwise formattedfor the most up-to-date connected communications device (includingaudio, text (e.g., ASCII), video, other digital formats, and combinationthereof). Thus, the Edge Side Assembler 314 has the intelligence toidentify configurations and formats of the most up-to-date connectedcommunications device and to initiate integration and configuration thedata 306 (including remote and/or linked) for presentation by the mostup-to-date connected communications device, or alternatively, thepersonal digital assistant 100.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of another personal digital gateway 800embodying this invention. This apparatus allows an Edge Side Assembler314 to generate or otherwise integrate and/or configure data 306(including remote and/or linked data) for presentation by a connectedcommunications device. The personal digital gateway 860 includes the PDGManagement Module 110 operating within a memory device of a digitalsignal processor 810. The memory device could include internal memory812 of the digital signal processor 810, or the memory device couldinclude an external memory 814 communicating with the digital signalprocessor 810. The digital signal processor 810 converts analog signalsto digital signals and converts digital signals to analog signals. Thedigital signal processor 810 could include compression and decompressionalgorithms, cancellation algorithms, audio-processing circuitry, filtercircuitry, and amplifier circuitry. Although digital signal processorscan be designed to provide differing capabilities and a variety ofperformance criteria, the basic functions of the digital signalprocessor are known and, thus, will not be further discussed.

The digital signal processor 810 interfaces with an input/outputprocessor 816. The input/output processor 816 controls systeminput/output and provides telephony and/or computer control features. Abus 818 provides a signal communication path between the digital signalprocessor 810 and the input/output processor 816. The input/outputprocessor 816 is a microprocessor that includes memory (not shown),communication controllers (not shown), and peripheral controllers (notshown). The communication controllers, for example, could controlpacket-based communications with the connected communications device anda connected network through a wireless transceiver 820 or through awired communications port 828. The communication controllers could alsocontrol packet-based communications with a communications switch (shownas reference numeral 650 in FIGS. 6-7). The peripheral controllersprovide an interface with an LCD/LED/CRT display 826 and withtelephony/computer-like control features, such as a keypad 824.Additionally, the peripheral controllers provide an interface with abiometrics sensor 822, such as, for example, a fingerprint ID device.The biometrics sensor 822 may provide security features that preventunauthorized users from exploiting personal digital gateway 800. Thebiometrics sensor 872 could also comprise retina recognition device andsoftware, DNA/RNA recognition device and software, facial recognitiondevice and software, speech recognition device and software, and/orscent recognition device and software.

The digital signal processor 800 also interfaces with an externalvoice/video player system 836 and/or with a voice/video recorder system838 to audibly and/or visually communicate data. Further, a clock source832 provides a system clock for the apparatus 800, and the clock source832 may also include higher and lower frequency multiples of the systemclock depending upon power requirements and power availability. Stillfurther, a power management system 830 provides differing power controlmechanisms, such as a sleep mode and a low-power mode, to efficientlyutilize available power and to reduce thermal management concerns.

The personal digital gateway 800 access, integrates, configures, and/orotherwise generates the data 306 for presentation to the connectedcommunications device. If, for example, the personal digital gateway 800communicates with a PDA (shown as reference numeral 702 in FIG. 7), thePDG Management Module 110 may appear on the display 804 and/or otherwisecause the personal digital gateway 800 to visually or audibly alert theuser of the connection with the PDA. Thereafter, the wirelesscommunications interface 820 (or alternatively the wired communicationsinterface 828) communicates the data 306 via a communications link tothe PDA. The data 306 may include information associated with the PDGRule-Based Profile 304. When the data 306 is communicated, the digitalsignal processor 810 interfaces with the PDG Management Module 110 andwith the internal memory 812 and/or the external memory 814. The PDGManagement Module 110 instructs the digital signal processor 810 toinitiate the Edge Side Assembler 314 to access, integrate, configure,and/or otherwise process the data 306 stored in the memory device andthe data received from remote and/or linked sources. Once the data isaccessed and retrieved (if remote and/or linked data), the personaldigital gateway 800 generates and/or otherwise integrates the data forcommunication with the connected communications device. The digitalsignal processor 10 interfaces with an Edge Side Assembler (ESA)Generator System 834. The ESA Generator System 834 executes thepresentation format for the connected communications device, populatesassociated fields and/or files, and presents the data 306.

While several exemplary implementations of embodiments of this inventionare described herein, various modifications and alternate embodimentswill occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, thisinvention is intended to include those other variations, modifications,and alternate embodiments that adhere to the spirit and scope of thisinvention.

1. A personal digital gateway, comprising: a database of personaldigital gateway rule-based profiles for communicating data to acommunications device selected from a plurality of communicationsdevices, the rule-based profile categorizing the data as at least one of(1) data associated with an access agent, (2) data associated with aconfiguration agent, (3) data associated with a security agent, and (4)data associated with a management agent; a processor communicating witha memory device, the processor associating a personal digital gatewayrule-based profile with the selected communications device; and acommunications interface between the personal digital gateway and, theselected communications device, wherein the personal digital gatewayenables communication of the data with each communications device of theplurality of communications devices, the plurality of communicationsdevices comprising at least one of a wireless communications device, amobile phone, a wireless phone, a WAP phone, an IP phone, a satellitephone, a computer, a modem, a pager, a digital music device, a digitalrecording device, a personal digital assistant, an interactivetelevision, a digital signal processor, and a Global Positioning Systemdevice, and wherein the memory device is removable from the personaldigital gateway.
 2. The personal digital gateway of claim 1, furthercomprising: a server for selecting the personal digital gatewayrule-based profile from the database of personal digital gatewayrule-based profiles.
 3. The personal digital gateway of claim 1, furthercomprising: at least one input/output port to for communicating data tothe personal digital gateway.
 4. The personal digital gateway of claim3, wherein the at least one input/output port comprises at least one ofthe following: a keyboard port; a mouse port; a serial port; and aparallel port.
 5. The personal digital gateway of claim 1, furthercomprising: a display for communicating visual data with the personaldigital gateway.
 6. The personal digital gateway of claim 1, furthercomprising: an audio subsystem for communicating audio data with thepersonal digital gateway.
 7. The personal digital gateway of claim 1,further comprising: a power source for the personal digital gateway. 8.The personal digital gateway of claim 7, wherein the power source is arechargeable battery power source.
 9. The personal digital gateway ofclaim 1, further comprising: a telecommunications switch, thetelecommunications switch establishing a telephony connection with atelecommunications network, the telecommunications switch engaged in adata connection associated with the selected communications device. 10.The personal digital gateway of claim 9, the telecommunications switchfurther communicating the data with the telecommunications network. 11.The personal digital gateway of claim 10, the telecommunications networkfurther communicating the data with a data network.
 12. The personaldigital gateway of claim 11, the data network connected with a gateway,the gateway communicating the data with the selected communicationsdevice.
 13. The personal digital gateway of claim 10, thetelecommunication network having a rule-based application dataserverproviding a rule-based engine to categorize the data as at least one of(1) data associated with an access agent, (2) data associated with aconfiguration agent, (3) data associated with a security agent, and (4)data associated with a management agent.
 14. A personal digital gateway,comprising: at least one input/output processor to input and to outputdata with the personal digital gateway; at least one communicationsinterface for communicating data with a communications device selectedfrom a plurality of communications devices, the plurality ofcommunications devices comprising at least one of a wirelesscommunications device, a mobile phone, a wireless phone, a WAP phone, anIP phone, a satellite phone, a computer, a modem, a pager, a digitalmusic device, a digital recording device, a personal digital assistant,an interactive television, a digital signal processor, and a GlobalPositioning System device; a memory device for storing the data; arule-based application dataserver providing a rule-based engine tocategorize the data as at least one of (1) data associated with anaccess agent, (2) data associated with a configuration agent, (3) dataassociated with a security agent, and (4) data associated with amanagement agent; and a processor communicating with the memory device,the processor selecting data stored in the memory device based uponinformation contained within a rule-based profile.
 15. The personaldigital gateway of claim 14, further comprising: an audio/videorecorder; and an audio/video player.
 16. The personal digital gateway ofclaim 14, wherein the at least one communications interface comprises atleast one of a wireless communications transceiver and a wiredcommunications port.
 17. The personal digital gateway of claim 16,wherein the wireless communications interface communicates signals, thesignals comprising at least one of: cellular telephone frequencies,satellite telephone frequencies, 2.4-2.5 GHz, infrared frequencies. 18.The personal digital gateway of claim 16, wherein the wirelesscommunications interface communicates signals, the signals furthercomprising any frequency signal in the electromagnetic spectrum.
 19. Thepersonal digital gateway of claim 14, further comprising: a biometricsensor for identifying a user of the personal digital gateway.
 20. Thepersonal digital gateway of claim 14, further comprising: an edge sideassembler application for accessing, integrating, and converting thedata to a format presentable to the selected communications device.